Ruth Crotty

Ruth Crotty, a native of New City, New York, has painted since receiving her first box of oil paints at the age of 10. She continued her interest in art by majoring in painting, and receiving a BFA from Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA in 1969. She has been making Plein Air paintings for the past 15 years, while continuing to paint studio pieces. 

Her paintings are about change, capturing a momentary mood, while all else is in flux. Light is a very important element of change. As light moves, it changes the composition which is comprised of colors, shapes and texture, and in turn changes the emotional response to the painting. It is the mood created that Crotty wants to pass on to the viewer. The painting is a result of choosing the light, composition and tenor for the piece. Light in her studio is also important. Its impact on a subject, such as a figure or face, reveals a desired composition. To capture her impressions, she is comfortable with using both watercolors and oils. Handling of the paints is as important to Ruth's paintings as observation. 

When painting, she is involved with the physicality of the process. Ruth wants the viewer to see the rhythm and direction of her brush stokes, and how they relate to the subject. She wants observer to see the effect of the interplay of warm and cool colors on the subject matter.  Her goal is to have the use of paint to be as obvious as the scene painted, all to contribute to a mood of specific time and place. 

Ruth has painted and shown in upstate New York since 1992. She lives in Saratoga Springs, NY, and belongs to art councils and organizations in Saratoga, Albany, Warren and Franklin Counties.